Mercy Comprehensive Care Center Celebrates a Rebirth in Buffalo’s Old First Ward

When the Sisters of Mercy first arrived in Buffalo in 1858 to serve the poor and sick in the local community, they settled at St. Brigid’s Parish in the city’s historic “Old First Ward.” There they helped educate young children, served the poor, and tended to the needs of the sick and injured.

Today, more than 150 years later, the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy and their service to the local community lives on in the rebirth of Catholic Health’s Mercy Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC), a department of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, at 397 Louisiana Street.

The Sisters, along with Catholic Health leadership, local dignitaries, and guests gathered on Friday, April 8 at 11:30 a.m. for a blessing and dedication ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of this newly expanded Primary Care “Supercenter,” which is located on the former site of St. Brigid’s Parish.

The MCCC continues the Sisters of Mercy longstanding tradition of serving families in the surrounding area and strengthens Catholic Health’s commitment to offer convenient, high quality primary care services. The 21,000 square foot facility houses separate treatment and lobby areas for adult, pediatric and OB-GYN medical services. The center also offers podiatry services and expanded ultrasound, x-ray and laboratory services.

The $3.8 million project was funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from New York State to improve access to primary care services in this culturally diverse, economically challenged community. “We are pleased to expand primary care services to families throughout the area,” said Michael Reilly, Catholic Health vice president of Primary Care Services. “For many individuals and families with limited transportation, the Mercy Comprehensive Care Center is their only source for medical care.”

Catholic Health operates 10 primary care centers throughout Western New York. The original Mercy Health Center, which opened in the early eighties, was located at 571 South Park Avenue, just a few blocks from the MCCC. The center moved to its current location at 430 South Park Avenue in 2006.

The new facility is nearly four times the size of the previous center, creating modern exam rooms, comfortable waiting areas and a new front entrance on Louisiana Street.

“It is especially fitting that we celebrate the rebirth of this center, where the roots of our ministry began,” said Joe McDonald, president & CEO of Catholic Health. “We are proud to honor the Sisters of Mercy and continue their legacy of caring for those in need in this historic neighborhood.”